Awakening His Innocent Cinderella. Natalie Anderson

need to get going or we’ll miss the fireworks,’ he called from outside the door.

      With an overwhelming sense of mortification she stepped out from the room and refused to meet his eyes. ‘I can’t wear this. It’s indecent.’

      He was so silent she had to look up at him. He’d dressed in another tuxedo. How many did the guy have? Like the first, this fitted to perfection and was annoyingly gorgeous in the way it emphasised his lean, strong frame.

      He regarded her for a full thirty seconds—so long she started to fidget with her watch strap.

      ‘It’s perfect,’ he finally said. Roughly.

      ‘It’s far from perfect.’ She looked down at the dress and put up her hand, self-consciously covering the neckline. ‘It’s pulling in all the wrong places.’

      ‘Right places. Very right.’

      ‘Because you like your dates to look—’

      ‘Beautiful. Of course. I’m not sure the watch works, though.’

      ‘Actually, it keeps good time and this Cinderella needs to keep an eye on it. I can’t be out past midnight.’

      ‘Because you might have too much fun?’ He reached out and lifted her wrist. ‘It’s old.’

      ‘It’s vintage,’ she corrected.

      ‘It’s a man’s.’

      ‘Yes,’ she muttered defensively. It was very precious to her. ‘An old man’s watch.’

      He released her startlingly quickly. ‘Let’s go. How is your knee?’

      ‘Fine as long as I don’t try to run. I’m keeping the sandals on.’

      ‘Then I shall remain on hand as your long-suffering emergency support structure.’

      ‘Thank you, I so appreciate that,’ she cooed. ‘If anyone asks me what I’m doing there, I’m going to tell them the truth,’ she muttered.

      ‘Marvellous.’ He led her outside. ‘I expect we’ll have a ball.’

      The car was low off the ground, red, polished to within an inch of its life and undoubtedly capable of screaming speed. She fastened her seatbelt.

      ‘I won’t be drinking, so I can drive home,’ she said primly.

      Her plan to abstain wasn’t about driving but the insane attraction for him she was battling. If she had even a sniff of alcohol, she wasn’t sure she could control the reckless temptation that seemed to have materialised inside her at the mere sight of him.

      He sent her a look. ‘Sure thing,’ he said blandly. ‘They’ll have some very nice champagne there, though. You might like to try just one glass.’

      ‘I’m not a risk-taker.’ Definitely not around this man.

      ‘Yet today you’ve trespassed on private property and are now going to a party in a borrowed designer dress with a man you barely know.’

      ‘In a Ferrari, no less.’ She nodded solemnly and braced herself for his no doubt reckless driving skills. ‘Most adventurous evening of my life so far.’

      ‘That’s...’ He glanced at her, but his brows lifted and he didn’t finish his comment. ‘Why don’t you take risks?’

      Because she’d always had to hold back. Always been on the alert from years of conditioning, of watching over her shoulder and being cautious. But she had her safety plan figured out—she knew who Rafael was and Alex would call her in the morning if she didn’t look in on him. And the imp in her wanted to have fun for once. It would be an experience.

      ‘I struggle to open up and trust people.’ She stared, amazed as Rafael began to laugh.

      ‘Don’t look like that!’ She mock-punched his arm. ‘I’m serious. What you’re seeing is the new me. Opening up and delivering one hundred percent honesty. It’s liberating.’ She smiled.

      ‘The new you,’ he said, his smile not gone. ‘One hundred percent honesty one hundred percent of the time?’

      ‘Absolutely,’ she said fervently.

      He roared with laughter this time. ‘No one is that honest.’

      ‘I am.’

      ‘Definitely not you.’

      ‘I am,’ she said indignantly.

      ‘Really? Could you be honest with someone even if you knew it was going to hurt them?’ he asked. ‘Isn’t it better to play it safe sometimes and protect someone’s feelings?’

      That this guy thought about protecting someone’s feelings surprised her. ‘You’d actually protect another person’s feelings?’

      ‘Sure.’

      So had he lied to her about how her dress looked? She just knew he had. ‘I bet you send flowers and jewels when you leave your lovers.’

      ‘That’s not generally a good idea,’ he said. ‘I prefer to leave them breathless.’

      ‘Oh, please.’ She rolled her eyes.

      ‘Well, you’re absolutely the kind of person who cares about someone else’s feelings, Ms I’ll-Water-the-Roses-for-the-Old-Guy.’

      ‘You say that like it’s not a compliment.’

      He laughed again.

      ‘Not being honest hurts people more,’ she said with soft passion. ‘Because in the end the truth does always come out.’

      He shook his head. ‘You’re so wrong. People lie and get away with it every day. Not just murderers. Cheats. Thieves. Everyday white lies as well.’

      ‘But it eats them up inside,’ she said softly. ‘Sure, you may never know that someone has lied to you, but the liar knows. And the liar suffers for it. Even if they think they don’t, they do. They’re weakened. Each lie breaks them down piece by piece.’

      His gaze intensified on her. ‘Told a lot of lies in your lifetime?’

      She held his gaze and her smile twisted. ‘More than you’d ever believe.’

      And she’d been weakened by every one.